A New Species of Carebara Westwood (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and Taxonomic Notes on the Genus

Revista Colombiana de EntomologíaA new species32(1): 97-99 of Carebara (2006) Westwood (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and taxonomic notes on the genus 97

A new species of Carebara Westwood (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and taxonomic notes on the genus

Una nueva especie de Carebara Westwood (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) y notas taxonómicas sobre el género

FERNANDO FERNÁNDEZ1

Abstract. A new ant species, Carebara coqueta sp.nov. from Colombia, is described, based on the soldier and worker castes. Carebara semistriata Fernández is considered a junior synonym of Carebara reina Fernández (syn. n.). Carebara guineana is proposed as a new name for Oligomyrmex silvestrii Santschi, 1914. Key words: Carebara coqueta, new species, Neotropics, taxonomic notes Resumen. Se describe una nueva especie de hormiga, Carebara coqueta n. sp. de Colombia, basada en soldado y obrera. Carebara semistriata Fernández se coloca como sinónimo menor de Carebara reina Fernández (n. sin.). Carebara guineana se propone como nuevo nombre para Oligomyrmex silvestrii Santschi, 1914. Palabras clave: Carebara, nueva especie, Neotrópico, notas taxonómicas.

Introduction posteroventral corner of mesosoma to far- Taxonomic section The recent revision of the myrmicine ant thest point on anterior face of pronotum; Carebara lignata species complex genus Carebara Westwood for the West- GL - Gaster length: In lateral view, the line from anterior edge of first gastral tergum to This complex comprises those dimorphic ern Hemisphere (Fernández 2004) broad- and monomorphic Carebara whose mi- ened the generic limits of this name with posteriormost point; TL - Total length (HL + Mandible length + WL + Petiole length + nor workers are always eyeless. In the the incorporation of Oligomyrmex, Carebara revision (Fernández 2004) the Paedalgus, Afroxyidris and Neoble- Postpetiole length + GL); CI - Cephalic name of the group was incorrectly written pharidatta, as synonyms of Carebara. index: HW/HL; SI - Scape index: SL/HW. as “Carebara concinna species complex” The genus in its new sense was split in in the heading of the section of this group three sections, the concinna, lignata and Collections in the page 211, the name must be changed escherischi species groups. The first one, IAvH. Insect Collection, Instituto Hum- to Carebara lignata species complex. the concinna species group, corresponds boldt, Claustro de San Agustín, Villa de Carebara coqueta new species to the concept of Oligomyrmex; the Leyva, Colombia. second, the lignata species group to the (Fig. 1) traditional Carebara s. str., and the esche- INBio. Instituto Nacional de Biodiver- Description (major worker). Head longer rischi species group to Paedalgus. The sidad, San José, Costa Rica. than broad, posterior border semicircularly first two groups are probably paraphy- letic taxa, with only the escherischi species group apparently monophyletic (Bolton and Belshaw 1993). This paper includes the description of a new species along with some other taxonomic changes and comments. Materials and Methods Measurements were made using a micro- meter in a Nikon SMZ 2T stereomi- croscope at 80X magnifications, with a fiber ring lamp. All measurements are in mm: HL - Head length: Maximum length, in full face view, from the apex of the clypeal apron to the middle of vertex; HW - Head width: Maximum width in full face view; SL - Scape length (ex- cluding basal condyle and neck), in straight line distance; PW - Pronotal width: Maximum width across pronotum in dorsal view; WL - Weber’s length: In Figure 1. Carebara coqueta new species. Major worker head (left, HW 0.48 mm), mesosoma, petiole and postpetiole in lateral view (top); head of minor worker in full face view (lower lateral view of mesosoma, the line from right, HW 0.26 mm). Scale bar 0.5mm

1 Profesor Asociado, Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Apartado 7495, Bogotá D.C., Colombia, [email protected] 98 Revista Colombiana de Entomología Fernando Fernández excised, sides straight, parallel. Mastica- with a small hair. Anterior sides of head present in the same foraging strata as tory border with five stout teeth. Clypeus with very fine longitudinal striation. workers. This suggests that, to obtain sol- narrow, medial portion slightly concave. Sides of mesosoma (except pronotum), diers of Carebara, we need to dig in the Frontal triangle well-defined. Frontal lobes petiole, postpetiole and dorsum of soil or look for them in rotten logs somewhat continued posteriorly as short petiolar peduncle with a faint to moder- (Longino 2004). The fact that many mu- longitudinal rugulae. Scapes very short. ate reticulation. Short curved hairs (less seums only have minor workers of the Ocelli and eyes absent. In lateral view than 0.03 mm) relatively abundant over typical Carebara (that is, the lignata spe- mesosoma flat, mesonotum slightly higher, body, especially dorsum. Medium cies group) could be due to the reason propodeum lower. Pronotal suture feebly length hairs (about 0.04 mm or longer): pointed out above, and in reality all of impressed dorsally. Metanotum narrow. Four on clypeus projecting forward, four the species of this complex may be di- Dorsal face of propodeum sloping and then on promesonotum (two anteriorly, two morphic. The exasperating monotony of curving into the posterior face, without posteriorly), two on petiole, four on the minor workers of the lignata species spines or angles. Propodeal spiracle rela- postpetiole. Body yellow brown. group (some of them only 0.90 mm long!) tively large, rounded, close to metapleural makes it desirable to obtain and to study Minor worker measurements (n=1) Para- gland bullae. Petiole with short peduncle, collections that include soldiers, besides type. HW 0.26 HL 0.31 SL 0.18 PW 0.15 lateral swellings and ventrally with strong females and males. If my prediction is cor- WL 0.29 GL 0.35 TL 1.04 CI 84 SI 69. spine. Postpetiole in posterior view rect, and all the species of the lignata campanuliform, ventrally with anterior cari- Female, Male: Unknown. group possess major workers (although nae. Body smooth, somewhat shining. difficult to collect), it should be possible Type data. Holotype major worker: Co- Head, promesonotum, sides of pronotum to revise the group on a global scale. lombia: Caquetá, Chiribiquete National and mesopleura with longitudinal rugae. Park, Mesay River, “Blue Green” Forest, Finally, I want to call attention to the in- Metapleuron, propodeum, petiole and site 5, 00°14’n 72°56’w, 8.ii.2000, teresting intercaste phenomenon in this postpetiole (except dorsal sides) with fine Winkler 64 in Terra Firme forest, 300 group. Kusnezov (1952) and Wheeler reticulation. Pubescence very sparse over m.o.s.l., F. Quevedo (Deposited in IAvH). (1925) pointed out and described cases body except propodeum. Long hairs (about Paratypes: 1 major worker, 2 minor work- of intermediates between major workers 0.13 mm) dense on head; several on ers, same data (Deposited in IAvH). (soldiers) and females. The great plastic- promesonotum, petiole, postpetiole and ity in the external attributes of the sol- gaster. Body brown. Distribution. Known only from the type diers of the lignata species group (such Holotype major worker measurements: locality. as the presence / absence of ocelli and HW 0.48 HL 0.64 SL 0.25 PW 0.25 WL Comments. The major worker of this eyes, and vestigial alary sclerites) make 0.53 GL 0.49 TL 2.03 CI 75 SI 52. species is smaller than that of C. tenua this an ideal group for the study of the or C. coeca, and on the basis of size is evolution of caste intergradations; as pro- Description (minor worker). Head posed by Baroni Urbani and Passera longer than wide. Posterior border more closely related to C. panamensis. Nevertheless, C. panamensis is even (1996), who suggest that in some cases slightly concave, lateral margins faintly the soldier developed not from the worker, concave. Mandibles with 4 teeth. Me- smaller (according to Wheeler 1925) with total length of 1.30 mm (vs. 2.03 but from the female (see Ward 1997 for a dian portion of clypeus nearly flat. In reply). frontal oblique view, clypeal lateral cari- mm in C. coqueta). The sculpturing dif- nae strongly narrowed posteriorly and fers between the two species, and is more Escherischi species complex extensive in C. coqueta. The pana- between frontal lobes, then continued mensis major worker/ergatoid has eyes The species in this complex (except by as frontal triangle. Scapes fail to reach and a median ocellus, although this the enigmatic C. intermedia Fernández) posterior border by 1/2 of head length. might be associated in some way with correspond to the previously recognized In side view, mesosoma slightly convex, its ergatoid condition. The minor work- genus Paedalgus sensu Bolton & Bel- interrupted by deep metanotal groove. ers of the two species are undistin- shaw (1993). The head is slightly narrower Dorsal face of propodeum curving into guishable, at least based on Wheeler’s anteriorly, the eyes, always present, are posterior face. Propodeal spiracle rela- (1925) description. As I pointed out in a reduced to a few ommatidia and the tively large, circular, high and very close recent paper (Fernández 2004:212), propodeum is very short. In the treatment to propodeal margin. Propodeal meta- there are several undescribed species in of the species of this complex (Fernandez pleural lobes reduced to narrow lamel- this complex whose limits and variation 2004) there is an error in the description of Carebara reina; moreover, new recent lae that reach the propodeal dorsum. are not well understood, additionally, evidence throw suspicion on the valid- Petiole with short peduncle, evenly con- the minor workers are practically use- ity of Carebara semistriata as good spe- tinuous with the dorsal rounded node. less for species identification. Thus, I cies. For these reasons, it is included the Subpetiolar process produced as ante- think that is better to postpone a key to complete description of C. reina, below. rior spine directed forward, spine nor- species until more material (with sol- mally not visible in mounted specimens. diers and minor workers associated) are Carebara reina Fernández Postpetiole dorsally concave, lower than studied. petiole. In dorsal view petiole longer Carebara reina Fernández, 2004:228 than wide, postpetiole globose, more or Longino (2004) calls attention to the (worker) less as long as wide. Anterior margin of paucity of samples of Carebara (lignata first tergum in side view straight. Body group) with both workers and soldiers. = Carebara semistriata Fernández, smooth and shining. Mandibles with In other myrmicine ants like Pheidole or 2004:229 (worker) syn. nov. several scattered punctures, head with Solenopsis it is not difficult to find work- Eyes reduced to 1 ommatidium. Lamel- scattered punctures (except in the cen- ers and soldiers in the field, which sug- lae of metapleural lobes low. Dorsum of tral longitudinal area), each punctum gests that soldiers of Carebara are not head densely sculptured with very small, A new species of Carebara Westwood (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and taxonomic notes on the genus 99 shallow foveolate punctures, broadly The key for the species in this complex cky) and Dr. Brian Brown (LACM) by way separated; mid dorsum to almost all of (Fernández 2004) should be modified as of the Instituto Humboldt, Colombia. promesonotum with dense, fine longi- follow: Thanks to Fernando Gast (General Direc- tudinal striations mixed with scattered tor), Mauricio Alvarez (Biodiversity In- 9. Mid and hind tibiae without stand- small punctures, periphery of promeso- ventories Program) and GEMA team of ing hairs ...... 10 notum, dorsal and posterior face of the Humboldt Institute for their conti- propodeum and petiole densely reticu- 9’. Mid and hind tibiae with standing nuous support and the Parks Unit of the lated. Postpetiole and gaster smooth and hairs (Southwestern Colombia) ..... Ministerio del Medio Ambiente de Co- shining. Scapes, dorsum of head, prome- ...... C. kofana lombia for collecting and maintaining sonotum and legs with appressed pubes- facilities in Colombia. William P. Mac- cence, denser on head. Body nearly 10. Standing hairs: none on dorsum of Kay (University of Texas at El Paso) of- naked of long hairs, with only few (about head, four in promesonotum, none on fered several corrections and suggestions 0.05 mm) distributed as follows: four on propodeum, two on first tergum of and improve the English of the text. clypeal area; two on each frontal lobe; gaster (Colombia, Trinidad, Perú, Thanks also to three anonymous review- two on head (each one near occipital cor- Brazil) ...... C. striata ers for their comments. This paper is dedi- ner), eight on promesonotum, two on cated to the memory of my friend Favio 10’. Standing hairs: two in head dorsum, propodeum, none on legs; two on peti- eight in promesonotum, two in Quevedo, collector of the samples from ole, four on postpetiole, several on first propodeum, several in first tergum of Chiribiquete, who recently past away in tergal dorsum. Body brown, appendages an accident in Caquetá. gaster (Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Co- lighter, most of gaster dark brown. lombia) ...... C. reina Literature cited Female, male: Unknown Carebara inca Fernández BARONI URBANI, C. PASSERA, L. 1996. Distribution. Nicaragua to Colombia Originally described from workers from Origin of ant soldiers. Nature 383: 223. (Bolívar, Valle del Cauca). Perú, Longino (2004) records this species BOLTON, B., BELSHAW, R.. 1993. Taxo- nomy and biology of the supposedly New records: 2 workers, COSTA RICA, for first time for Central America. lestobiotic ant genus Paedalgus (Hym.: Cartago, 4 km E Turrialba, 9°54’N New record: 1 w, COSTA RICA, Puntarenas, Formicidae). Systematic Entomology 83°39’W, 550 m, 13 may 1987, J. Lon- Osa, Rancho Quemado, 8°42’N 83°33’W, 18:181-189. gino No. 1644-S, INBio CRI00 2280244; 2-300m, 15 dec 1990, J. Longino No. 2760- FERNÁNDEZ, F. 2004. The American species of the myrmicine ant genus Carebara 1 worker, COSTA RICA, Limón, Hitoy- S, INBio CRI001, 280880. Cerere Biological Reserve, 9°40’N Westwood (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Caldasia 26(1): 191-238. 83°02’W, 500 m, 30 aug 1985, J. Longino Final note KUSNEZOV, N. 1952. El género Oligo- No. 970-S, INBio CRI00 2279068. Gary Alpert (Museum of Comparative myrmex Mayr en la Argentina (Hymenop- Comments. John Longino (2004) correc- Zoology, Cambridge) and Barry Bolton tera, Formicidae). Acta Zoológica Lilloana (The Natural History Museum, London) 10: 183-187. tly notes an incongruence in part of the LONGINO, J.T. 2004. Ants of Costa Rica Web description of Carebara reina, and ob- alerted me to a unresolved junior secon- Page: http://www.evergreen.edu/ants/gen- serves that the extension of the longi- dary homonym between Carebara silves- era/carebara (visited 12.XII.2005) tudinal striation on the promesonotal trii Santschi and Aneleus silvestrii SANTSCHI, F. 1914. Formicides de l’Afrique dorsum of C. reina and C. semistriata is a Santschi. The name Carebara guineana occientale et australe du voyage de Mr. le variable attribute, and I support his opin- is proposed as new name for Carebara Professeur F. Silvestre. Bolletino del ion, based on new material. The type silvestrii Santschi 1914:362. Laboratorio di Zoología generale e agraria della R. Scuola superiore d’Agricultura in material of C. reina has a distribution of Acknowledgements Portici 8:309-385. erect hairs clearly as in the description WARD, P.S. 1997. Ant soldiers are not modi- above, Since in this group of species the Special thanks are due to Dr. John T. fied queens. Nature 385:494-495. hair patterns are the most reliable trait to Longino (INBio) and Mauricio Alvarez WHEELER, W. M. 1925. A new guest-ant and recognize species. I accept the weakness (IAvH) for the loan of critical material. other new Formicidae from Barro Colo- of the striation extension as a good trait Partial support came from NSF grant rado Island, Panama. Biological Bulletin and I place C. semistriata as junior syno- DEBS Nos. 9972024 and 0205982 to Dr. 49: 150-181. nym of C. reina. Michael Sharkey (University of Kentu- Recibido: 03-ene-06 • Aceptado: 31-ene-06